Chemical and physical agents of work-related cardiovascular diseases.

This article summarizes the state of the art in research on cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and occupational exposure. The major chemical and physical agents are considered and the methodological difficulties of epidemiological surveys are discussed. Work-related CVD, like all occupational disorders, are changing continuously as a consequence of modifications in industrial processes, improvements in preventative measures, and the tertiarization of the economy. The cornerstones of a preventative strategy of CVD are still based on environmental monitoring and medical surveillance, but at the same time on multidisciplinary and multicentred scientific research. Where possible, health promotion will include more general programmes directed at changing personal risk factors.